County commissioners to finalize budget on Monday

Henderson County commissioners will take a final vote Monday on a $112.2 million county budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

By NATHANIEL AXTELLTimes-News Staff Writer

Faced with a July 1 deadline, commissioners will take a final vote on a $112.2 million county budget Monday, one that keeps taxes level but pulls $6.78 million from Henderson County's “rainy day” fund.

A draft budget ordinance commissioners will consider Monday fully funds the Henderson County Public Schools' request for $22 million, grants the Sheriff's Office $13.5 million and gives the Emergency Medical Services' division $4.45 million, allowing the addition of a new ambulance crew.

The county's property tax rate would remain at 51.36 cents per $100 assessed value, despite attempts by two commissioners to lower it to 50 cents earlier this month. Assuming a 97 percent tax collection rate, the draft budget foresees the county raising $63 million in property tax revenues this coming fiscal year.

While keeping property taxes static, the 2013-14 budget – if approved as drafted – would raise fire taxes slightly for those living in the Green River and Valley Hill fire districts. Green River's fire tax rate would rise from .065 per $100 value to .070, while Valley Hill's would go from .08 per $100 value to .085.

“I've actually talked with both those districts, and they are in the process of expanding and relocating some of their substations,” said Commissioner Grady Hawkins, who supports the adjustments. “They're going to be increasing fire protection for our residents, which is good.”

“Some of the districts were a little bit low,” said Commissioner Larry Young. “Valley Hill has always kept their fire tax pretty low. That's a district with a lot of property in it, and high-valued property, so they haven't had as high a rate as other (more agricultural, lower-density) districts.”

If approved, the draft budget ordinance would give county employees a 2.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment. Commissioners would also see that increase, raising their annual compensation by roughly $266, to $10,906 per year. Chairman Charlie Messer would get $428 more, bringing his yearly compensation to $17,565.

Young said approval of the budget ordinance might not be unanimous.

“There might be some votes against it,” he said Saturday. “They didn't vote to cut the (property) tax, and they've used a lot of the fund balance that we've raked and scraped together over the years.”

Hawkins lauded county departments for making “reasonable” budget requests and said he won't oppose any specific line items. But he added he will urge his colleagues to revisit the board's policy about fund balances in the fall, after an audit is performed. Currently, the board keeps 12 percent of its budget in reserve, 4 percent more than mandated by state law.

“If the two primary functions of the fund balance, and of the government, is to provide necessary services and we're doing that, and we have excess monies over and above our 12 percent policy, what should we do with that?” Hawkins asked. His answer: put $1.6 million back in the pockets of taxpayers by lowering the tax rate.

Hawkins said “if I voted against the budget at all, it would be on the grounds of the tax rate.”

Commissioners were originally scheduled to vote on the final budget June 17, but after realizing that Commissioner Mike Edney would be out of town then, they pushed the meeting back until June 24. They'll meet at 9 a.m. Monday on the second floor of the Historic Courthouse.